Like all FloodBreak systems, the VSL deploys automatically without human intervention or power to prevent floodwater intrusion. Fully passive automatic, the seals and mechanisms utilize the same materials and technology that have been in service and field-tested for over a decade, including real-world deployments and long-term exposure in a variety of field conditions.
The passive vent panel system is a series of buoyant louvered panels enclosed within an aluminum box & shelf structure providing protection to the designed flood elevation.
As the floodwater rises, the panels “float” into position, lifted by the water. Wiper seals stop the water from going around the panel edges. Only panels affected by the flood are raised leaving the remaining louvers open in minor flood events. Once the floodwaters recede, the panels return to the rest position allowing airflow to resume.
The VSL system can be designed with a single panel or a series of panels depending on the opening and can be installed either partially or fully inside an existing vent opening. Or it can be surface mounted to the building wall depending on available space and airflow requirements. It can be covered with wire mesh or be installed behind existing gratings.
Protected under patent US 6,623,209